Vapor-heating system.



C. LAUTERBACH.

VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28. 1914.

1 1 5 1 l 99. I Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Who z C. LAUTERBACH VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT.28. 1914.

1,151,199. Patented Au 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Mam z;

CHRISTOPHER LAUTERBACI-I, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

VAPOR-HEATING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed September 28, 1914. Serial No. 863,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER LAUTER- EACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Heating systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heating systems for dwelling houses, apartment houses and all classes of small and large buildings, and especially to that class of systems known as vapor heating systems, the primary object of the invention being the production and installation of heating systems of this class which shall be of improved-construction and operation, requiring but little attention and being as nearly automatic and self-contained as such systems can be made.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in an improved vapor heating svstem and the parts thereof, and in the construction, arrangement and combination of such parts, all as hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In order that the construction and opera tion thereof may be readily comprehended, 1 have illustrated an approved embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, and will now proceed to specifically describe the construction and operation thereof, having reference to said drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents in front elevation, a generator forming part of my improved system, connected up to the left of the drawing with a radiator adapted for use in apartment houses and large buildings, and on the right of the drawing, with a' radiator adapted for use in private dwellings. Fig. 2 represents in vertical section my auto matic air escape valve, parts being shown in elevation and parts broken away. Fig. 3 represents partly in vertical section' and partly in elevation, a radiator valve such as I use in radiators in private dwellings and like structures. Fig. 4 represents a transverse sectional view on the construction shown in Fig. 3, taken on the plane indicated by the broken lines H in said figure. Fig. 5 represents a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of the radiator valve which I use when my system is applied to apartment houses and other large buildings. Figs. 6 and 7 represent transverse sectional views of the construction shown in Fig. 5, taken on the plane indicated by the broken line m-0c in said Fig. 5, each of said Figs. 6 and 7 illustrating a different adjustment of the valve plugs.

Like reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they appear in a plurality of the figures of the drawings.

Referring now in detail to the drawings: A, Fig. 1, designates a vapor or steam generator of any suitable construction and fitted up with all the necessary appurtenances, such as a water supply pipe 1, water column 2, fitted with water gage glass and try cocks, combination pressure and vacuum gage, 3, main vapor supply pipes, 1, riser supply pipes, 5, to radiators, radiator valves, 13, C, radiators, 6, of any approved construction, return r ser pipes, 7, by-passpipes, 8, main return pipes, 9, dirt catcher, 10, check valve, 11, extension pipe, 12, air pipe, 13, and automatic air escape valve, D. There may be two or inore'of the automatic air escape valves in the system. The generator, A, is supplied with a smoke collar, 14, in which I the main damper, 15, is located. On the outmatter of my U. S. Patent 1,073,354, granted Sept. 16, 1913, and illustrated in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawings of this application. This valve, as fully described in that patent, comprises a bottom casing a which is substantially cylindrical and hollow, the lower end being contracted in diameter and externallythreaded-as at b to fit the thread of a pipe or coupling projecting from a radiator,

in a well known manner. Near the upper end thereof the casting is provided with a transverse diaphragmo in which are ports d and the extreme upper end is interiorly threaded as at c, to receive the lower exteriorly threaded end of a hollow cylindrical shell 7, an upwardly extending lug g projecting centrally from the top center of the dia phragm 0, upon which lug is seated a hollow cylindrical supporting post h. 'Threaded upon the upper exteriorly threaded end of the shell 7 is the top casting i which is substantially cylindrical and exteriorly threaded at upper end to receive an interiorly threaded adjusting cap 7'. This top casting is provided with a transverse diaphragm 2" having a central threaded opening to receive a hollow exteriorly threaded adjusting plug 713. The two ends of the hollow adjusting plug 76 are shaped as valve seats, the lower one to receive and co-act with the upper conical tip Z of a hollow bell float m which is supported upon the upper end of the supporting post it and is of a diameter to leave a space a in the shell 7" aroundsaid float. The upper valve seat of the adjusting plug is intended, under circumstances hereinafter described, to receive and co-act with the conical lower center 0 of a disk 79, the conical edge 9 of which coacts with a valve seat 1" formed in the upper end of the top casting z, the disk 79, adapted to seat on the plug 70 when the plug is adjusted to a sufficient height to hold the disk 7) above the valve seat 4. This disk is provided in its top center with an upwardly extending socket s to receive a centering screw tthreaded through the center of the'top of the adjusting cap j. Port holes u extend through the top of the adjusting cap 7' around the centering screw it. The bell float m and the disk 79 are constructed of brass, aluminum, or like material, aluminum being preferable on account of its lightness and anti-oxidizing qualities.

The radiator valves Band C are shown in detail in the drawings, 13 being shown in Figs. 3 and 4: and C in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

The valve B is provided with a hollow casing 18 provided with an interiorly threaded end 19 to fit upon riser pipe hand an exteriorly threaded pipe end-20 to fit into the radiator. Fitted in the casing is a hollow controlling plug 21 having receiving port 22 and discharging port 23 which, by turning the plug, may be made to close or wholly or partly open the discharging port 23 to the port 2 1 of the casing. A packing 25, gland 26 and packing nut 27 of any approved form and material are provided and the plug may be set, in any usual manner, to admit more or less vapor to the radiator. The radiator valve C, is alsoprovided in a like manner with a hollow casing 18, interiorly threaded end 19 to fit upon the riser pipe 5, exteriorly threaded pipe end 20 to fit intothe' radiator, hollow controlling plug 21 having receiving port 22 and discharging port 23, port 2 1 in the casing, packing-25,

' gland 26 and packing nut 27 all constructed as in the valve B. The valve C however being intended for apartments and large buildings, is further provided with a'hollow adjusting plug within the hollow controlling plug 21 and with a suitable packing 29 and packing nut 30.

The hollow controlling plugs 21' of both of the valves B and'C, may beset by using a suitable wrench or other tool upon the projecting ends 31 of such plugs and when the plug 21 of the valve 13 is adjusted to the position shown in Fig; 4 or the plug 21 of valve C adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 7, the valves are open to their full capacity.

By turning the plug 21 from its wide open position to any intermediate position between that and its closed position, as for instance to the position shown in Fig. 6, the valve may beopened and left open to any desired extent. In the valve C the adjusting plug 28 is carried around with the controlling plug 21 but when-the occupant of the apartment or oflice room desires'to change the adjustment of the valves, without calling 'upon the janitor who has previously'set the plug 21 to suit the temperature, it is only necessary'for said occupant to turn the handle 32 of the plug 28 to carry the plug to any intermediate position, such for instance as that shown in Fig. 6, by which means the passage of vapor into the radiator may be further restricted at will.

This system is designed'to work in harmony with the well known natural laws, that, heat ascends, cold descends, also, that the nearer vertical a pipe is, the less friction it ofi'ers to the flow of air, gases, liquids, etc. For this reason, all supply pipes, including the main supply "pipes, are graded upward from the generator A, to all the radiators,

and the'radiator supply pipes are run as,

nearly vertical as is possible to the top of the radiators, where they are connected by radiator valves B or C, or both, to the radiators. The return connections at the bottom of the radiators (at either end) are open,

that is, either a straight open pipe is used or a return elbow, either of which offering no obstruction of any kind to the downward flow of air and water of condensation.

The main return pipes are graded downward from the radiators to the generator A. This allows a free flow of the air in the radiators and return pipes, and the water of condensation, to the air pi e 13, and return pipe 9, the air flowing out t rough the automatic air escape valve D, and the water of condensation down the return pipe '9, through check valve 11', and extension pipe 12, to

the generator A. I

The object of the dirt catcher 10, is to receive all scale and dirt that may be in the radiators and return pipes, .thereby preventing the scale and dirt from passing through andlodging between the disk and seat of check valve 11, as this check valve must at all times be tight so as to" prevent the water in generator A, from backing up in the return pipes. The object of the extension pipe 12, is also toprevent the dirt which may be in the bottom of the water leg of generator A, from passing through and lodging between the disk and seat of check valve 11.

The by-pass pipes 8 connecting the extended ends of the main supply pipes 4 with the extended ends of the main return pipes 9, are formed into depending water-traps which will receive the water of condensation from the main supply pipes when steam pressure is generated, and will thus prevent the water of condensation from backing up in the ends of the main supply pipes in front of the riser pipes. Under normal conditions, when steam is not being generated, the water in the by-pass pipes or traps offers a resistance to the vapor in the system and prevents its passage to the main return pipes, and when steam is generated, the increased pressure will cause the water in the traps to flow into the main return pipes without causing a resistance to the water of condensation passing from the riser return pipes into the main return pipes. This latter advantage is secured by extending the ends of the main return pipes beyond the risers, so that the water passing from the traps will flow in a direct line with the main return pipes and consequently will not have a tendency to back up in the risers.

The operation of my vapor heating system is as follows: Upon starting a fire in the generator A, as soon as the water in the generator increases in volume from the heat of the fire, that portion of air representing the increase in volume of water, is discharged through the automatic air escape valve D. If the fire be continued until the vapor is generated, there will be a steady discharge of the air in the system through the automatic air escape valve. If now, the fire be drawn from the fire pot of the generator, the vapor in the main supply and riser pipes and in the radiators, if any there be, will condense, the outflow of air through the automatic air escape "alve, will cease and the automatic air escape valve will close itself automatically against the inflow of the atmospheric pressure. The combination steam and vacuum gage 3, will show a vacuum, the number of inches of such vacuum depending upon the amount of air discharged from the system. Now however, if instead of drawing the fire from the gen erator A, the fire be continued until all the radiators and return pipes are hot, then all the air in the system will have passed out through the automatic air escape valve, and a steam pressure will begin to develop, which will be shown by the indicator on the combination pressure and vacuum gage. When this pressure reaches, say, one half pound, the automatic air escape valve D, on account of its internal construction, would prevent any further discharge of steam owing to the steam pressure raising the valve Z and closing the outlet, thereby allowing the steam pressure in the system to be raised to any desired number of pounds. The raising of a steam pressure in the system is abnormal, whether by chance or design. Under normal firing and heating conditions, there is only just enough vapor generated within the generator A, and supplied to the radiators, to keep the rooms or house at the de-' sired temperature, usually 7 0 degrees. This is accomplished by the positive working of the automatic air escape valve D, controlled by the difference between the weight of the vapor generated and the weight of the air in the system. The vapor being lighter than the air, will seek a higher level, and the air being heavier than the vapor, will seek a lower level and all the pipes from the generator to the radiators and from the radiators back again to the generator, are set to facilitate the upward flow of the vapor, and the downward flow of the air in the system. Under normal conditions, if the draft in the smoke chimney is good and anthracite coal used as fuel, the damper 15 in the smoke collar 14:, is closed and remains closed, as long as anthracite coal is used, that is throughout the heating season. The draft door 17, remains closed until the outside temperature gets down to freezing and the check damper 16 is set to suit the outside temperatures, said damper 16 having means whereby it can be set to any position from closed to wide open. When the temperature goes below freezing, the check damper 16 is closed and the draft door 17 is opened. Beginning at about one sixteenth of an inch to one quarter of an inch in extremely cold weather, the check damper 16 and the draft door 17, may be set one way for daysand weeks, without changing, and all the while the rooms or house. are being heated uniformly.

The amount of vapor supplied to the rad iators is controlled to a great extent by the gas and air currents in the smoke chimney,

'and, by the ease with which the air in the system is discharged through the automatic air escape valve, the gas and air currents in the chimney create a slight vacuum in the smoke pipe, increasing and decreasing with the changes in the outside temperature. When the outside temperature lowers, the vacuum within the smoke pipe increases, this will draw a larger volume of air through the cracks around the draft and ash pit doors, or, through the draft door if same is open. This larger volume of air passing up through the bed of burning fuel, generates a larger volume of vapor, this in turn making more of each radiator hot, or if the radiators are hot all over, increasing their heat. If the outside temperature rises, the gas and air currents in the chimney decrease in velocity and the vacuum in the smoke pipe decreases, tending to draw less air through the cracks around the draft and ash pit doors. This smaller volume of air passing matically, by means of the instantaneous response of the automatic air escape valve to the changes in the velocities of the gases and air currents'in the chimney, but the temperature of the water in the generator is also raised or lowered at the same time.

This generating of more or lessvapor in the generator A, because of the rapld response of the automatic air escape valve to the changes in the velocities of the gasand air currents in the chimney, supplying more or less vapor to the radiators at higher or lower temperatures, means, that in the higher outside temperatures, say sinty five degrees, only the top of the radiators are warm, because the'supply connection to the radiators is at the top. As the outside temperature lowers, more ofthe radiators become hot, from the top downward toward the bottom of the radiators, and only in extremely cold weather when the maximum amount of vapor is generated, are the radiators hot all over.

To have all rooms, or apartments, or building, heated uniformly when only the necessary volume of vapor is generated to suit the outside temperature, the controlling plugs of the radiator valves B and C, are set, closing the outlet ports of the valves more or less,'depending upon the closeness of the radiators to the generator A, or the size of the radiators. In addition to this, in apartments, public buildings, etc., radiator valve C, is furnished with the adjusting plug, enabling the occupants of the room or apartments, to either shut off the heat entirely, without in any way interfering with the controlling plug, or to lower the temperature of the rooms, apartments, etc., to any desired temperature below the usually desired 70 degrees. I

Since the controlling plugs of the radiator valves B and C are set, so that all the radiators heat equally,it only becomes necessary for the operator of the system to keep the fire pot of the generator A, full of burning coal, and, only change the setting of the check damper and draft door. occasionally, to have allthe rooms or apartments heated uniformly. In no case is it necessary for the operator to change the setting of the controlling plugs B and G, unless it is desirous o1 shutting ofi a radiator entirely, or, lowering the temperature of a particular room or apartment below; the temperature agreed upon, usually 70. de-

g w f While I have illustrated and described specific formsand constructions of valves andother parts comprised in my improved systenuI desire it to be understood that my invention. is not. thus specifically limited. Many slight changes and variations may be made from the construction and arrangement of parts herein described, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as hereinafter claimed. I

.Having thus fully described my inven tion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is p, p r p In a vapor-vacuum heating system, a generator, radiators having top and bottom horizontal connections between the vertical coils,,supplv and return pipes graded upwardly from said generator to the tops of said radiators and downwardly from the bottoms of said radiators to said generator respectively, free open connections between the bottom of said radiators and return pipes, a single, air escape means for the sys tem which is connected to said return pipes adjacent the generator, said airescape means being provided with an air vent which is normally closed to the atmosphere and openable by a minimum pressure above atmospheric pressure within the system to maintain normal pressure in the system be low atmospheric pressure, and closed against the escape of vapor only by pressure formed with steam generated above 212 degrees F., manual control means in said supply pipes adjacent said radiators for regulating the supply of vapor or steam thereto, and a condensation pipe connected to said return pipes and the bottom of the water-leg of the generator. r

c In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

, CHRISTOPHER LAUTERBACH. Witnesses:

E. WALTON BREWINGTON, PH. H. HOFFMAN.

Copies of this ,patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0; 

